Page last updated on January 31, 2014

Introduction:
Background:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
El Salvador achieved independence from Spain in 1821 and from the Central American Federation in 1839. A 12-year civil war, which cost about 75,000 lives, was brought to a close in 1992 when the government and leftist rebels signed a treaty that provided for military and political reforms.
Geography:
Location:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Central America, bordering the North Pacific Ocean, between Guatemala and Honduras
Geographic coordinates:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
13 50 N, 88 55 W
Map references:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 21,041 sq km
country comparison to the world: 153
land: 20,721 sq km
water: 320 sq km
Area - comparative:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
slightly smaller than Massachusetts
Land boundaries:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 545 km
border countries: Guatemala 203 km, Honduras 342 km
Coastline:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
307 km
Maritime claims:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
tropical; rainy season (May to October); dry season (November to April); tropical on coast; temperate in uplands
Terrain:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
mostly mountains with narrow coastal belt and central plateau
Elevation extremes:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Cerro El Pital 2,730 m
Natural resources:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
hydropower, geothermal power, petroleum, arable land
Land use:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
arable land: 31.61%
permanent crops: 10.93%
other: 57.46% (2011)
Irrigated land:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
449.9 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
25.23 cu km (2011)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 1.84 cu km/yr (22%/14%/64%)
per capita: 301.9 cu m/yr (2007)
Natural hazards:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
known as the Land of Volcanoes; frequent and sometimes destructive earthquakes and volcanic activity; extremely susceptible to hurricanes
volcanism: significant volcanic activity; San Salvador (elev. 1,893 m), which last erupted in 1917, has the potential to cause major harm to the country's capital, which lies just below the volcano's slopes; San Miguel (elev. 2,130 m), which last erupted in 2002, is one of the most active volcanoes in the country; other historically active volcanoes include Conchaguita, Ilopango, Izalco, and Santa Ana
Environment - current issues:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
deforestation; soil erosion; water pollution; contamination of soils from disposal of toxic wastes
Environment - international agreements:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Geography - note:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
smallest Central American country and only one without a coastline on Caribbean Sea
People and Society:
Nationality:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
noun: Salvadoran(s)
adjective: Salvadoran
Ethnic groups:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
mestizo 86.3%, white 12.7%, Amerindian 1% (2007 census)
Languages:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Spanish (official), Nahua (among some Amerindians)
Religions:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Roman Catholic 57.1%, Protestant 21.2%, Jehovah's Witnesses 1.9%, Mormon 0.7%, other religions 2.3%, none 16.8% (2003 est.)
Demographic profile:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
El Salvador is the smallest and most densely populated country in Central America. It is well into its demographic transition, experiencing slower population growth, a decline in its number of youths, and the gradual aging of its population. The increased use of family planning has substantially lowered El Salvador's fertility rate, from approximately 6 children per woman in the 1970s to replacement level today. A 2008 national family planning survey showed that female sterilization remained the most common contraception method in El Salvador - its sterilization rate is among the highest in Latin America and the Caribbean - but that the use of injectable contraceptives is growing. Fertility differences between rich and poor and urban and rural women are narrowing.
Population:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
6,108,590 (July 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 108
Age structure:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0-14 years: 28.9% (male 905,236/female 859,468)
15-24 years: 20.9% (male 638,938/female 635,460)
25-54 years: 37% (male 1,037,173/female 1,224,227)
55-64 years: 6.5% (male 179,374/female 217,472)
65 years and over: 6.7% (male 182,773/female 228,469) (2013 est.)
population pyramid: "> Dependency ratios:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total dependency ratio: 59 %
youth dependency ratio: 47.6 %
elderly dependency ratio: 11.3 %
potential support ratio: 8.8 (2013)
Median age:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 25.1 years
male: 23.7 years
female: 26.6 years (2013 est.)
Population growth rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0.29% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 170
Birth rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
17.12 births/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 113
Death rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
5.65 deaths/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 175
Net migration rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
-8.61 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 206
Urbanization:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
urban population: 64% of total population (2010)
rate of urbanization: 1.4% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
Major urban areas - population:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
SAN SALVADOR (capital) 1.605 million (2011)
Sex ratio:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 1 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 0.85 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 0.83 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.8 male(s)/female
total population: 0.93 male(s)/female (2013 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
20.8 (2008 est.)
Maternal mortality rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
81 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)
country comparison to the world: 82
Infant mortality rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 19.05 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 97
male: 21.12 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 16.87 deaths/1,000 live births (2013 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total population: 73.93 years
country comparison to the world: 117
male: 70.66 years
female: 77.37 years (2013 est.)
Total fertility rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
1.99 children born/woman (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 130
Contraceptive prevalence rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
72.5%
note: percent of women aged 15-44 (2008)
Health expenditures:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
6.8% of GDP (2011)
country comparison to the world: 87
Physicians density:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
1.6 physicians/1,000 population (2008)
Hospital bed density:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
1 beds/1,000 population (2011)
Drinking water source:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
improved:
unimproved:
Sanitation facility access:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
improved:
unimproved:
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0.8% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 54
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
34,000 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 66
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
1,400 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 61
Major infectious diseases:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
degree of risk: high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea
vectorborne diseases: dengue fever (2013)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
25.8% (2008)
country comparison to the world: 51
Children under the age of 5 years underweight:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
6.6% (2008)
country comparison to the world: 78
Education expenditures:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
3.4% of GDP (2011)
country comparison to the world: 130
Literacy:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 84.5%
male: 87.1%
female: 82.3% (2010 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 12 years
male: 12 years
female: 12 years (2011)
Child labor - children ages 5-14:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total number: 179,303
percentage: 4 %
note: data represents children ages 5-17 (2007 est.)
Unemployment, youth ages 15-24:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 12.4%
country comparison to the world: 97
male: 12.8%
female: 11.7% (2012)
Government:
Country name:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
conventional long form: Republic of El Salvador
conventional short form: El Salvador
local long form: Republica de El Salvador
local short form: El Salvador
Government type:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
republic
Capital:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
name: San Salvador
geographic coordinates: 13 42 N, 89 12 W
time difference: UTC-6 (1 hour behind Washington, DC during Standard Time)
daylight saving time: none scheduled for 2013
Administrative divisions:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
14 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento); Ahuachapan, Cabanas, Chalatenango, Cuscatlan, La Libertad, La Paz, La Union, Morazan, San Miguel, San Salvador, San Vicente, Santa Ana, Sonsonate, Usulutan
Independence:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
15 September 1821 (from Spain)
National holiday:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Independence Day, 15 September (1821)
Constitution:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
many previous; latest drafted 16 December 1983, enacted 23 December 1983; amended many times, last in 2009 (2012)
Legal system:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
civil law system with minor common law influence; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court
International law organization participation:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
Suffrage:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
chief of state: President Carlos Mauricio FUNES Cartagena (since 1 June 2009); Vice President Salvador SANCHEZ CEREN (since 1 June 2009); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Carlos Mauricio FUNES Cartagena (since 1 June 2009); Vice President Salvador SANCHEZ CEREN (since 1 June 2009)
cabinet: Council of Ministers selected by the president
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket by popular vote for a single five-year term; election last held on 15 March 2009 (next to be held in February 2014)
election results: Mauricio FUNES Cartagena elected president; percent of vote - Mauricio FUNES Cartagena 51.3%, Rodrigo AVILA 48.7%
Legislative branch:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
unicameral Legislative Assembly or Asamblea Legislativa (84 seats; members elected by direct, popular vote to serve three-year terms)
elections: last held on 11 March 2012 (next to be held in 2015)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - ARENA 33, FMLN 31, GANA 11, CN 7, PES 1, PCD 1; note - changes in party affiliation now reflect the following seat distribution: as of 8 May 2013 - FMLN 31, ARENA 28, GANA 11, CN 7, Unidos por El Salvador 5, CD 1, PDC 1
Judicial branch:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
highest court(s): Supreme Court or Corte Suprema (consists of 15 judges assigned to constitutional, civil, penal, and administrative conflict divisions)
judge selection and term of office: judges elected by the Legislative Assembly on the recommendation of the National Council of the Judicature, an independent body elected by the Legislative Assembly; judges elected for single, 9-year terms with renewal of one-third of judges every 3 years.
subordinate courts: Chambers of Second Instance; Courts of First Instance; Courts of Peace
Political parties and leaders:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Democratic Change (Cambio Democratico) or CD [Tomas CHEVEZ] (formerly United Democratic Center or CDU)
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
labor organizations:
business organizations:
International organization participation:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
BCIE, CACM, CD, CELAC, FAO, G-11, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAES, LAIA (observer), MIGA, MINURSO, NAM (observer), OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, SICA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIFIL, Union Latina, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
chief of mission: Ambassador Ruben Ignacio ZAMORA Rivas (since 12 April 2013)
chancery: Suite 100, 1400 16th Street, Washington, DC 20036
telephone: [1] (202) 595-7500
FAX: [1] (202) 232-3763
consulate(s) general: Brentwood (NY), Chicago, Coral Gables (FL), Dallas, Houston, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, Santa Ana (CA), Seattle, Tucson, Woodbridge (VA), Woodstock (GA)
consulate(s): Elizabeth (NJ)
Diplomatic representation from the US:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
chief of mission: Ambassador Mari Carmen APONTE (since 22 September 2010)
embassy: Final Boulevard Santa Elena Sur, Antiguo Cuscatlan, La Libertad, San Salvador
mailing address: Unit 3450, APO AA 34023; 3450 San Salvador Place, Washington, DC 20521-3450
telephone: [503] 2501-2999
FAX: [503] 2501-2150
Flag description:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), white, and blue with the national coat of arms centered in the white band; the coat of arms features a round emblem encircled by the words REPUBLICA DE EL SALVADOR EN LA AMERICA CENTRAL; the banner is based on the former blue-white-blue flag of the Federal Republic of Central America; the blue bands symbolize the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea, while the white band represents the land between the two bodies of water, as well as peace and prosperity
note: similar to the flag of Nicaragua, which has a different coat of arms centered in the white band - it features a triangle encircled by the words REPUBLICA DE NICARAGUA on top and AMERICA CENTRAL on the bottom; also similar to the flag of Honduras, which has five blue stars arranged in an X pattern centered in the white band
National symbol(s):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
turquoise-browed motmot (bird)
National anthem:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
name: "Himno Nacional de El Salvador" (National Anthem of El Salvador)
lyrics/music: Juan Jose CANAS/Juan ABERLE
note: officially adopted 1953, in use since 1879; the anthem of El Salvador is one of the world's longest
Economy:
Economy - overview:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
The smallest country in Central America geographically, El Salvador has the third largest economy in the region. With the global recession in 2009, real GDP contracted by 3.1%. The economy slowed even further during 2010-12. Remittances accounted for 17% of GDP in 2011 and were received by about a third of all households. In 2006, El Salvador was the first country to ratify the Dominican Republic-Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR), which has bolstered the export of processed foods, sugar, and ethanol, and supported investment in the apparel sector amid increased Asian competition. El Salvador has promoted an open trade and investment environment and has completed a wave of privatizations extending to telecom, electricity distribution, banking, and pension funds. The Salvadoran Government maintained fiscal discipline during post-war reconstruction and reconstruction following earthquakes in 2001 and hurricanes in 1998 and 2005, but El Salvador's external debt has been mounting over the last several years. Taxes levied by the government include a value added tax (VAT) of 13%, income tax of 30%, excise taxes on alcohol and cigarettes, and import duties. The VAT accounted for about 51.7% of total tax revenues in 2011. El Salvador's external debt amounts to about one-fourth of GDP. In 2012, El Salvador successfully completed a $461 million compact with the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) - a United States Government agency aimed at stimulating economic growth and reducing poverty - in the country's northern region, the primary conflict zone during the civil war, through investments in education, public services, enterprise development, and transportation infrastructure. In January 2013, the MCC approved El Salvador as eligible for a possible second MCC compact.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$46.09 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 99
note: data are in 2012 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$23.54 billion (2012 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
1.9% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 140
GDP - per capita (PPP):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$7,300 (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 136
note: data are in 2012 US dollars
Gross national saving:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
8.9% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 131
GDP - composition, by end use:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
household consumption: 93.2%
government consumption: 11%
investment in fixed capital: 14.2%
investment in inventories: 0%
exports of goods and services: 28.2%
imports of goods and services: -46.6%
GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
agriculture: 10.2%
industry: 29%
services: 60.8% (2012 est.)
Agriculture - products:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
coffee, sugar, corn, rice, beans, oilseed, cotton, sorghum; beef, dairy products
Industries:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
food processing, beverages, petroleum, chemicals, fertilizer, textiles, furniture, light metals
Industrial production growth rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
1.8% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 106
Labor force:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
2.725 million (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 108
Labor force - by occupation:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
agriculture: 21%
industry: 20%
services: 58% (2011 est.)
Unemployment rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
6.1% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 66
note: data are official rates; but the economy has much underemployment
Population below poverty line:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
36.5% (2010 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
lowest 10%: 1%
highest 10%: 37% (2009 est.)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
46.9 (2007)
country comparison to the world: 31
Budget:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
revenues: $4.621 billion
expenditures: $5.435 billion (2012 est.)
Taxes and other revenues:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
19.6% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 171
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
-3.5% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 134
Public debt:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
59.2% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 46
note: El Salvador's total public debt includes non-financial public sector debt, financial public sector debt, and central bank debt
Fiscal year:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
calendar year
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
1.8% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 36
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
5.6% (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 143
Stock of narrow money:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$2.796 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 118
Stock of broad money:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$9.527 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 109
Stock of domestic credit:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$10.51 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 96
Market value of publicly traded shares:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$5.474 billion (31 December 2011)
country comparison to the world: 86
Current account balance:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$-1.257 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 121
Exports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$5.447 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 112
Exports - commodities:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
offshore assembly exports, coffee, sugar, textiles and apparel, gold, ethanol, chemicals, electricity, iron and steel manufactures
Exports - partners:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
US 47.3%, Guatemala 13.8%, Honduras 9.6%, Nicaragua 5.4% (2012)
Imports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$9.912 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 100
Imports - commodities:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
raw materials, consumer goods, capital goods, fuels, foodstuffs, petroleum, electricity
Imports - partners:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
US 35.4%, Guatemala 12.7%, Mexico 7%, China 5.6%, Germany 4.2% (2012)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$3.176 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 106
Debt - external:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$13.56 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 90
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$8.635 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 85
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$5.7 million (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 98
Exchange rates:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
note: the US dollar is used as a medium of exchange and circulates freely in the economy, 1 (2012 est.)
Energy:
Electricity - production:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
5.728 billion kWh (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 115
Electricity - consumption:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
5.756 billion kWh (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 109
Electricity - exports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
101.6 million kWh (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 75
Electricity - imports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
251 million kWh (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 82
Electricity - installed generating capacity:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
1.491 million kW (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 117
Electricity - from fossil fuels:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
52.6% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 149
Electricity - from nuclear fuels:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 84
Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
31.6% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 73
Electricity - from other renewable sources:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
15.7% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 13
Crude oil - production:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 bbl/day (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 168
Crude oil - exports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 109
Crude oil - imports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
16,160 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 70
Crude oil - proved reserves:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 bbl (1 January 2013 es)
country comparison to the world: 128
Refined petroleum products - production:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
16,620 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 98
Refined petroleum products - consumption:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
44,040 bbl/day (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 104
Refined petroleum products - exports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
2,425 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 100
Refined petroleum products - imports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
29,020 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 92
Natural gas - production:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 127
Natural gas - consumption:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 140
Natural gas - exports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 96
Natural gas - imports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 189
Natural gas - proved reserves:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 cu m (1 January 2013 es)
country comparison to the world: 135
Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
6.713 million Mt (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 117
Communications:
Telephones - main lines in use:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
1.06 million (2012)
country comparison to the world: 74
Telephones - mobile cellular:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
8.65 million (2012)
country comparison to the world: 88
Telephone system:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
general assessment: multiple mobile-cellular providers are expanding services rapidly and in 2011 teledensity exceeded 135 per 100 persons; growth in fixed-line services has slowed in the face of mobile-cellular competition
domestic: nationwide microwave radio relay system
international: country code - 503; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); connected to Central American Microwave System (2011)
Broadcast media:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
multiple privately owned national terrestrial TV networks, supplemented by cable TV networks that carry international channels; hundreds of commercial radio broadcast stations and 1 government-owned radio broadcast station (2007)
Internet country code:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
.sv
Internet hosts:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
24,070 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 113
Internet users:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
746,000 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 107
Transportation:
Airports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
68 (2013)
country comparison to the world: 73
Airports - with paved runways:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 5
over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 1 (2013)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 63
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 11
under 914 m:
Heliports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
2 (2013)
Railways:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 283 km
country comparison to the world: 121
narrow gauge: 283 km 0.600-m gauge
note: railways have been inoperable since 2005 because of disuse and high costs that led to a lack of maintenance (2008)
Roadways:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 6,918 km
country comparison to the world: 147
paved: 3,247 km (includes 341 km of expressways)
unpaved: 3,671 km (2010)
Waterways:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
(Rio Lempa is partially navigable for small craft) (2011)
Ports and terminals:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
major seaport(s): Puerto Cutuco
oil/gas terminal(s): Acajutla offshore terminal
Military:
Military branches:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Salvadoran Armed Forces (Fuerza Armada de El Salvador, FAES): Salvadoran Army (Ejercito de El Salvador, ES), Salvadoran Navy (Fuerza Naval de El Slavador, FNES), Salvadoran Air Force (Fuerza Aerea Salvadorena, FAS) (2013)
Military service age and obligation:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
18 years of age for selective compulsory military service; 16-22 years of age for voluntary male or female service; service obligation is 12 months, with 11 months for officers and NCOs (2012)
Manpower available for military service:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
males age 16-49: 1,449,214
females age 16-49: 1,611,248 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
males age 16-49: 1,079,038
females age 16-49: 1,373,368 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
male: 71,530
female: 68,971 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0.99% of GDP (2012)
country comparison to the world: 290
Transnational Issues:
Disputes - international:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled on the delimitation of "bolsones" (disputed areas) along the El Salvador-Honduras boundary, in 1992, with final agreement by the parties in 2006 after an Organization of American States survey and a further ICJ ruling in 2003; the 1992 ICJ ruling advised a tripartite resolution to a maritime boundary in the Gulf of Fonseca advocating Honduran access to the Pacific; El Salvador continues to claim tiny Conejo Island, not identified in the ICJ decision, off Honduras in the Gulf of Fonseca